Of course, judging from a vocal score alone can be a notoriously misleading exercise (the case of Sullivan being a prime example)...
How true! Although I am not sure about Stanford 'going through the motions' because there are features like the rhythmic impetus in the accompaniment and the quote I noticed recently (after rehearsing the Stabat Mater) cued on the horn in the Benedictus that I am curious about. I suppose wanting to understand the semiotic significance of the latter and hear how Stanford deals with the orchestration does not make it a priority or indeed the most worthwhile. But it does
look interesting with flowing lines unlike the earlier mass with many minims - but that is your point quoted above!
